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SLAVE  LIFE 


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THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


Cp326.92 
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UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00039135051 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofslfere 


A  BRIEF  HISTORY 


OF  THE 


SLAVE  LIFE 


OF 


H 
i 


I  I       _JL-     L_  I 


H 


H 


Jl 


H 


H 


H 


AND  THE 


ATTLES  OF  LIFE, 


fAND 


Four  Years  of  his  Ministerial  Life, 


Written  from  Memory,  to  1882. 


RALEIGH  : 

Ddwards,  Broughton  &  Co.,  Steam  Printers,  Publishers  and  Binders. 

1882. 


PREFACE 


The  many  readers  of  this  little  book  will  doubtless 
find  many  imperfect  sentences.  While  the  writer  has 
not  been  blessed  with  a  scholarship  that  many  of  the 
readers  have,  and  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  life, 
after  having  passed  through  many  conflicts,  of  which 
the  public  have  been  slightly  informed,  and  many  slan- 
derous remarks  have  been  made  in  relation  to  him„ 
He  therefore  presents  himself  to  the  public  in  fair 
colors,  without  any  regret  of  the  past  life,  relative  to 
his   own   action. 

Hope  the  many  readers  will  carefully  read  and  pon- 
der well  the  facts  in  the  whole  matter  herein  con- 
tained. 

Raleigh,   January    19th,  1882. 


History  of  Rev.  L  R.  Ferebee.. 


CHAPTER  I. 


This  chapter  will  relate  to  the  birth-place  and  parentage 
of  London  R.  Ferebee.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Eider  Abel 
M.  Ferebee,  of  the  Virginia  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion 
Church  in  America.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Robert 
Simmons,  of  Currituck  county,  North  Carolina.  During  the 
time  of  slavery,  while  a  slave,  he  was  granted  license  under 
the  M..  E.  Church,  South,  to  preach,  and  was  associated  by 
the  Rev.  Gabriel  Whitehurst.  The  Rev.  Robert  Simmons 
died  in  the  year  1857.  The  Rev.  Gabriel  Whitehurst  died 
about  the  year  1871  or  '72,  after  being  an  ordained  Elder  in 
the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  and  presided  over  the  Rev.  Abel  M. 
Ferebee  for  several  years.  The  Rev.  Abel  M.  Ferebee  was 
one  of  the  first  men  in  the  organization  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina Annual  Conference,  with  Bishop  J.  W.  Hood,  then  an 
Elder  of  the  New  England  Conference,  and  Bishop  J.  J. 
Clinton,  Elder  Hill,  W.  J.  Moore,  and  others,  in  Newbern, 
North  Carolina;  and  sometime  in  the  summer  of  1865,  was 
ordained  an  Elder  on  Roanoke  Island,  North  Carolina,  and 
put  in  charge  of  the  church,  under  Elder  John  Williams. 
And  then  W.  J.  Moore  took  charge  as  Presiding  Elder 
sometime  in  1866.  The  Rev.  A.  M.  Ferebee  was  an  active 
Elder  until  within  nine  days  of  his  death,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  in  charge  of  three  churches,  to-wit:  Moses'" 
Temple  and  Mary  Holly  Grove,  in  Pasquotank  county,  and 
one  in  Perquimans  county,  viz :  Fork  Bridge.  In  the 
time  of  life  he  always  desired  that  one  of  his  boys  should 
be  a  preacher.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  Married 
about  the  age  of  twenty-three  or  twenty-four,  to  a   woman 


(6) 

owned  by  Mrs.  Oley  Whitehurst,  of  Currituck  county,  by  the 
name  of  Chloe.  They  lived  together  as  man  and  wife  for 
twenty-two  years.  The  number  of  their  children  was  ten — - 
seven  boys  and  three  girls.  In  time  of  the  life  of  his  wife,  a 
cross  word  by  either  of  them  to  each  other  has  never  been 
known  by  any  one.  She  died  in  May,  1859,  and  he  re- 
mained a  widower  for  seven  years,  and  then  married  a  sec- 
ond time,  and  in  that  selection  got  a  quiet,  Christian  wife, 
and  lived  till  his  death  in  peace  and  quietness.  He  left  his 
widow  with  a  homestead,  on  which  she  now  lives,  without 
fear  of  molestation  by  any  one,  and  is  held  in  as  high  re- 
gard as  a  step- mother  can  be  by  his  children,  and  will  never 
be  allowed  to  suffer  while  any  of  his  children  survive  their 
father.  The  widow's  residence  is  in  Elizabeth  City,  Pasquo- 
tank county,  North  Carolina.  The  connection,  as  well  as 
State,  county  and  community,  say:  "  Peace  to  his  ashes/" 


CHAPTER  II. 

This  chapter  begins  to  treat  upon  ihe  life  of  London  R. 
Ferebee,  now  known  as  Rev.  L.  R.  Ferebee,  an  Elder  of  the 
A.  M.  E.  Zion  church,  in  America,  who  was  a  slave  as  all 
of  his  ancestors  were. 

At  an  early  age  my  mother  was  sold.  I  scarcely  can 
remember  the  occurrence  which  took  place  on  the  mornino- 
she  was  sold.  It  wassaid  thatall  of  my  people  are  mixed  with 
Indian  blood,  and  she  was  a  spirited  woman  and  would  not 
suffer  to  be  imposed  upon  by  her  master  nor  mistress.  A 
dispute  arose  between  my  mother  and  her  mistress,  and 
her  mistress  attempted  to  strike  her,  at  which  mother  said 
"  If  you  strike  me,  it  will  be  the  dearest  lick  ever  you  struck,'' 
and  at  the  arrival  of  the  master  her  mistress  of  course 
reported  the  conduct  of  my  mother.  He,  knowing  the 
spirit  of  my   mother,  took  his  gun  and  cowhide  in  hand 


(7) 

and  coming  to  the  kitchen,  said  with  an  oath,  "  Chloe,  if 
you  don't  let  me  whip  you  for  saucing  your  mistress.  I'll 
shoot  you."  She  (my  mother)  said,  opening  her  bosom, 
"  Shoot;  that's  the  only  way  yuu  can  whip  me."  Having  at 
this  time  come  in  reach  of  her,  he  struck  at  her  with  the 
cowhide.  She  seized  it  and  cut  it  in  two  with  a  butcher  knife 
which  she  had  been  cleaning  fish  with:  they  then  gathered 
each  other  and  my  mother  threw  him,  and  as  he  fell  the 
gun  discharged  but  injured  no  one.  She  put  one  knee  in 
his  breast,  the  other,  as  well  as  I  can  now  remember, -on  one 
arm,  wrested  the  gun  from  his  hand  and  struck  him  over 
the  head  with  the  breech,  wounding  him  badly,  so  that 
he  called  for  help.  She  was  taken  off  by  some  of  his 
men.  That  morning  he  sold  her  to  a  speculator,  Hal- 
stead,  of  Camden  county,  he,  (Halstead)  not  knowing  at  the 
time  it  was  my  father's  wife  until  after  he  had  bought  her. 
He  then  left  her  and  rode  thirty-one  miles  to  see  my  father 
who  was  then  working  at  Col.  W.  F.  Martin's  ship  yard, 
Elizabeth  City,  N.  C,  and  was  hiring  his  time  from  his 
master,  Dr.  E.  D.  Ferebee,  to  see  what  arrangement  he  could 
make  about  buying  her  or  getting  his  master  to  do  so. 

The  plan  was  fixed  between  himself  and  master,  so  he 
bought  her  from  the  speculator  by  paying  ($1,100.00,)  eleven 
hundred  dollars.  The  next  day,  as  near  as  I  can  remember, 
moved  her  and  myself  and.  two  more  of  the  children  with 
her,  where  I  remained  until  I  wras  large  enough  to  render 
service.  I  was  then  taken  from  her,  and  saw  her  twice  from 
that  time  unto  her  death.  According  to  my  age  the  readers 
will  see  that  I  was  quite  young.  I  was  horn  at  a  place 
called  the  Big  Ditch,  on  Coin  Jock  shore,  near  the  Sound, 
Currituck  county,  N.  C,  the  18th  day  of  August,  1849. 
After  leaving  my  mother,  1  had  a  rough  life.  Many  hard- 
ships I  had  to  undergo,  as  all  young  slave, children  had  to 
suffer.  I  went  by  water  with  my  master  a  good  deal  until 
I  learned  to  man  the  vessel  pretty  well ;  even  at  night 
I  could  steer  by  the   compass,  or  by  any  star.     My  mas- 


(8) 

ter  would  point  out  to  me,  before  he  went  to  his  bunk, 
and  I've  heard  him  tell  gentlemen  in  my  presence  he  could 
lie  down  as  well  satisfied  with  me  at  the  helm  as  any  one  of 
the  crew. 

My  aptness  gained  his  affections,  and  I  received  favors 
of  him,  and  he  would  not  allow  me  to  be  cruelly  treated, 
and  at  last  I  felt  satisfied  when  with  him.  His  name  was 
Edwin  T.  Cowles,  his  assigned  initials  was  Capt.  E.  T. 
Cowies.  My  mistress  was  named  Sarah.  He  had  three 
children,  Elizabeth,  Oliviour,  the  eldest,  Lydia,  the  next, 
and  Willie,  the  youngest.  I  was  given  to  the  oldest,  Eliza- 
beth. Up  to  this  day  they  are  kind  to  me,  and  when  I  am 
with  them  they  give  me  the  best  their  table  affords,  and  I 
am  accommodated  to  all  the  hospitalities  of  the  house.  My 
mistress  was  always  cruel  to  me.  It  appeared  she  always 
had  spite  to  me  by  reason  of  my  mother.  I  suppose  it  was 
because  I  allowed  no  one  to  whip  me  but  my  master.  She 
always  would  say  you  are  some  of  the  old  blue  hen's  chick- 
ens. At  (7)  seven  years  old  she,  with  the  assistance  of  her 
house  girl,  attempted  to  whip  me  and  I  was  the  conqueror, 
and  my  master,  after  having  learned  the  circumstances  con- 
nected with  the  case,  refused  to  whip  me,  but  teased  her  for 
letting  me  whip  out  the  house.  This  always  apparently 
gave  her  a  distaste  to  me. 

I  suffered  under  the  yoke  of  oppression  until  the  9th  day 
of  August,  1861,  the  Northern  forces  having  taken  Roanoke 
Island,  and  proceeded  immediately  to  Elizabeth  City  in  the 
winter  preceding  the  date  just  mentioned.  We  were  living 
then  at  a  little  place  called  Mill  Town,  (If-)  one  mile  and  a 
half  from  Shiloh,  a  little  country  village  in  Camden  county, 
about  (12  or  13)  twelve  or  thirteen  miles  through  the  coun- 
try and  nine  miles  down  the  river  called  Pasquotank  from 
Elizabeth  City.-  .The  Northern  army  stationed  a  portion  of 
their  men  at  that  place,  and  on  the  day  mentioned,  the  9th 
of  August,  I  ran  away  and  went  to  the  Yankees,  so  called. 
I  reached  the  Yankee  lines  about  (30)  minutes  before  my 


(9) 

master  overtook  me  on  the  road.  I  remained  with  them 
until  the  1st  day  of  January,  1863.  The  Yankees  then 
evacuated  Shiloh  and  removed  to  Elizabeth  City,  and  there 
they  delivered  me  to  my  father,  where  I  remained,  until 
they  evacuated  Elizabeth  City  and  went  to  the  city  of  New- 
bern,  N.  C,  carrying  as  many  colored  people  with  them  as 
wanted  to  go.  The  war  having  not  ended,  my  father  and 
others  not  knowing  what  would  be  the  consequences  of  those 
that  remained,  concluded  it  best  to  go  with  the  Yankees 
where  freedom  was  assured,  embarked  on  board  of  a  large 
vessel,  to  wit:  the  Edwards,  having  (4)  four  cannons  on  it, 
it  being  used  as  a  gun  boat,  and  she  was  accompanied  by 
another  large  vessel  named  Benjamin  Butler,  both  sail  ves- 
sels. We  left  Elizabeth  City  the  19th  of  April,  1S63,  and 
arrived  at  Newbern,  N.  C  ,  on  the  21st.  Then  my  father 
occupied  a  house  for  the  time  being  on  Pollock  Street.  At 
this  time  I  knew  not  ray  alphabet  and  had  become  quite 
unhealthy  and  suffered  with  Rheumatics.  I  entered  a  pri- 
vate school  at  the  Christian  Church,  taught  by  a  colored 
man,  a  minister  of  that  church,  and  an  ex-slave,  viz:  Isaac 
Bishop,  (alias)  Isaac  Peel. 

I  learned  my  alphabet  that  day,  the  1st  day  of  June  of 
the  date  above  mentioned.  Then  I  remained  in  that  school 
until  September,  at  which  time  my  father  was  ordered,  as 
chief  magistrate,  to  Roanoke  Island,  N.  C,  by  Colonel  Fos- 
ter, and  being  advised  by  Chaplain  James,  as  the  small  pox 
was  raging  then  in  Newbern,  he  moved  his  family  to 
Roanoke  Island  also. 

After  he  arrived,  he  was  taken  sick,  and  remained  so  until 
the  next  spring,  to-with,  1864.  He,  through  the  assistance 
of  Chaplain  W.  A.  Green,  now  pastor  of  the  1st  Baptist 
church  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  succeeded  in  getting  a  nice  school 
house  and  industrial  building  erected,  and  had  12  or  14 
Northern  teachers  to  come  down,  among  them  was  a  lady 
of  the  finest  deportment  and  a  finished  alumni,  and  she  was 
from  Boston,  Mass.,  by  the  name  of  Ella  Roper,  and  another 


(10) 

by  the  name  of  Mary  Burnepp,  of  Vermont,  in  all  there 
were  sixteen.  I  fell,  fortunately,  in  the  department  taught 
by  Miss  Ella  Roper,  and  Miss  Mary  Burnepp,  and  Kate 
Freeman,  and  many  other  too  tedious  to  mention  now. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1864,  April,  I  entered  the  school, 
with  Miss  Roper  as  my  teacher,  where  my  progress  was  so 
rapid,  I  ascended  to  the  head  of  the  first  class  in  school, 
and  no  scholar  in  school  or  on  the  Island  could  com- 
pete with  me,  in  consequence  of  which  I  was  made  assistant 
teacher.  When  I  began  to  write,  I  learned  to  make  my 
alphabet  in  one  night.  The  first  copy  bonk  I  ever  had  I 
wrote  it  up  the  first  night — every  page.  My  teacher  set  me 
no  more  alphabet,  and  the  first  copy  of  writing  was  this — 
a  improve  each  shining  hour." 

By  reason  of  study,  my. health  grew  bad,  and  my  eyesight 
failed  me.  I  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  September, 
1864.  Before  I  repented  of  my  sins,  I  was  elected  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school.  Some  time  in  May,  the  same 
year,  Rev.  Andrew  Cartwright  lectured  the  Sabbath  school 
on  the  subject  of  Repentance.  I  was  then  honored  to  the 
position  in  the  Sabbath  school  as  Superintendent,  but  had 
not  made  any  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  the  language 
falling  from  the  mouth  of  God's  servant,  touched  my  heart. 
He  was  followed  by  my  father,  and  all  that  each  said  seemed 
to  rest  on  me.  By  their  words  used  relative  to  teachers 
teaching  what  they  really  knew  nothing  of;  then  in  strong 
terms  showed  that  all  my  instruction  given  as  Superinten- 
dent, would  prove  to  me,  without  repentance,  my  eternal 
destruction.  Then  I  was  convicted,  and  from  that  time, 
until  I  manifested  a  hope,  I  could  not,  nor  did  not,  open 
school  any  more.  And  at  a  revival  in  September,  4th  Sun- 
day, about  eight  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  received  the  Pearl  of  Great 
Price.  Soon  after,  I  was  nominated  and  elected  Secretary 
of  church  and  Board  of  Trustees. 

All  the  teachers  and  scholars  and  members  of  the  church 
apparently  appreciated  me  for  my  usefulness   in  church, 


(11) 

school,  &c.  There  was  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Miles 
Bartlette,  who,  at  a  time  previous  to  that,  was  a  member  of 
the  same  school,  and  in' my  class,  but  wras  dull  in  his  studies, 
and  the  teacher  said,  one  morning,  Mr.  Bartlette,  I'll  have 
to  send  you  over  to  the  primary  school.  She  then,  unfor- 
tunately, asked  me  if  I  did'nt  think  best?  I  deliberately 
answered  yes.  At  ray  sanction  to  her  idea,  he  was  sent 
down  to  Miss  Kate  Freeman,  who  taught  that  branch. 

He  then,  with  envy,  sought  to  slay  me,  and  at  his  first 
opportunity  stabbed  me  on  the  5th  day  of  July,  1865.  In 
the  night,  about  9  o'clock,  he  came  up  behind  me  and  com- 
mitted the  vicious  deed.  The  instrument  used  was  a  dirk. 
He  was  strong  enough  to  throw  it  through  my  left  shoulder 
blade,  and  came  very  near  touching  my  heart,  so  that  I  was 
•compelled  to  lie  at  home  during  the  months  of  July,  August 
and  September.  In  October  I  was  able  to  enter  school 
again.  The  schools  all  flourished  until  the  latter  part  of 
1866,  When,  after  it  was  understood  by  both  races,  learned 
and  unlearned,  that  freedom  was  established,  the  people  then 
began  to  scatter  to  the  different  parts  of  North  Carolina 
and  many  of  the  teachers  went  back  North.  My  father 
moved  back  to  Elizabeth  City,  N.  C,  on  the  20th  day  of 
April,  1867. 

Schools  there  were  somewhat  dull  then  to  what  they  had 
been  on  the  Island.  I  entered  there  with  a  younger  brother 
and  sister — the  baby.  In  the  summer  I  was  called  to 
Nixonton,  Pasquotank  county,  to  take  charge  of  a  private 
school.  Having  taught  a  session  before  leaving  Roanoke, 
it  had  become  very  familiar  to  me  to  teach,  so  I  opened  the 
first  school  of  any  note  ever  held  in  Nixonton,  where  I 
taught  for  three  years  in  succession.  In  1869,  I  entered  a 
normal  school,  under  the  management  of  T.  W.  Cardozo,  of 
New  York  city,  and  his  wife,  and  his  wife's  cousin,  Miss 
Sarah  Williams,  of  New,  York.  Thirty-five  boys  of  the 
school  were  prppared  for  Howard  University,  but  there  were 
only  three   that  could  get   any  assistance  from  Northern 


(12) 

friends,  as  Prof.  Cardozo,only  appeared  to  look  out  for  those 
of  a  light  hue,  or  mulatto — none  of  the  dark  ones  could  get 
any  assistance.  We  then  had  to  go  to  Hampton,  Va.,  and 
wherever  we  could  acquire  an  English  education.  We  all 
resolved,  though  the  other  boys  wTere  blessed  above  us,  we 
would  not  envy  them,  but  strive  to  compete.  I  managed 
to  keep  in  the  normal  schools  until  I  could  master  an  Eng- 
lish education  partially,  and  demanded  a  first  grade  certifi- 
cate from  any  county  examiner,  but  having  an  eye  and 
heart  on  the  study  of  law,  I  contracted,  by  the  consent  of 
my  father,  with  Judge  C.  C.  Pool,  of  the  First  Judicial  Dis- 
trict, to  live  with  him,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  lessons  in 
Latin,  law,  &c.  I  had  free  access  to  all  the  books  of  his 
library  and  also  in  his  law  office.  It  was  from  him  I  got 
the  most  of  my  business  training.  It  was  rich,  good,  and 
came  so  freely  from  him  I  never  felt  like  I  wearied  him 
in  all  classes  of  law  he  taught  me. 

He  then  went  to  work  and  got  a  free  school  for  me,,  the 
first  I  ever  taught  drawing  pay  from  the  State  ;  he  also 
managed  that  I  got  first-class  pay.  This  was  in  the  latter 
part  of  1869,  I  think,  as  my  memory  is  not  as  good  as  we 
wish  on  the  date  at  this  juncture.  I  had  a  good  reputation 
as  a  teacher,  at  that  early  age,  so  I  was  always  in  employ- 
ment in  that  direction,  all  over  Camden,  Pasquotank  and 
Perquimans,  and  at  last  became  to  be  a  swift  politician  and 
canvassed  the  Judicial  and  Congressional  Districts  over  in 
fayor  of  Republican  candidates,  and  in  my  course  was  never 
known  to  change  or  waver  from  Republican  principles.  In 
all  campaigns  my  attention  was  always  called,  by  those  con- 
cerned, and  solicited,  and  eagerly  importuned  to  take  part 
and  was  always  successful.  I  married  in  March,  1872,  at 
South  Mills,  Camden  county,  where  I  was  then  teaching,  to 
a  young  lady  of  Gates  county,  N.  C,  by  the  name  of  Lu- 
ciuda  Smith,  her  residence  being  rwsar  Sunsbury. 

I  was  yet  engaged  in  politics.  I  had,  in  my  own  county, 
many  enemies  that  I  was  unconscious  of,  both  colored  and 


(13) 

white  of  rny  own  part}7,  for  the  fact  that  the  colored  voters. 
which  is  the  strength  of  the  Republican  party  in  Pasquo- 
tank county,  had  severally  expressed  a  desire  of  my  coming 
before  them  as  a  candidate,  and  as  my  aspiration  was  the 
Legislature  or  the  Senate,  and,  at  that  time,  could  have 
received  any  office  within  the  gift  of  the  people. 

In  1872  a  conspiracy  was  gotten  up  against  me  by  some 
office  lobbies  of  Pasquotank  of  both  races,  for  the  fear  they 
had  of  my  prominence,  or  popularity,  as  it  would. warrant 
my  nomination  in  the  county  convention.  Thomas  P. 
Wilcox,  then  County  Treasurer,  and  his  brother,  James 
Wilcox,  and  another  man,  of  New  Land  Township,  (two 
first  mentioned  are  white  men,  the  third  was  colored.) 

I  was  teaching  at  Nixonton,  and  had  said,  when  I  can- 
vassed the  county  for  W.  J.  Munden,  the  Republican  candi- 
date for  the  Legislature,  that  if  the  people  would  support 
him,  I  would  assure  them  they  would  have  a  colored  man 
the  next  time,  for  I  intended  to  ask  for  the  position  myself. 
Munden  was  elected.  These  parties  were  also  aspirants  and 
opposed  me  in  the  convention,  and  when  Munden  was 
nominated  sought  an  opportunity  to  break  down  my  repu- 
tation. 

While  teaching  at  Nixonton  I  had  occasion  to  go  4o  T. 
P.  Wilcox,  County  Treasurer,  with  my  school  vouchers,  four 
in  all,  drawing  $30  each.  He  lived  eighteen  miles  from 
Elizabeth  City.     . 

I  had  been  to  his  residence,  and  finding  him  not  at  home, 
was  on  my  return  when  I  met  him  and  his  wife  on  their 
return  home.  Just  before  this  I  had  overtaken  a  young 
man  by  the  name  of  Benjamin  Dozier,  (colored,)  and  had 
taken  him  up  in  my  buggy.  1  stopped  Mr.  Wilcox,  told 
him  my  business.  He  said  he  had  been  to  town  but  the 
sheriff  had  not  made  settlement,  but  would  take  my  vouch- 
ers and  give  me  a  duplicate,  and  when  the  sheriff  settled  I 
should  receive  the  first  monies.  I  gave  him  one  $30  order 
and  took  a  written  duplicate  ;  heat  the  time  was  half  drunk. 


(14) 

I,  with  my  friend,  Mr.  Dozier,  went  on  for  home.  On  the- 
next  day,  as  I  always  had  been  doing  and  as  it  was  a; 
general  custom,,  passed  the  duplicate  off  to  Mr.  Emanuel 
Davis  as  a  deposit  until  I  received  some  money.  I  left  the 
next  day  following  for  Edenton,  N.  C,  where  the  A.  M.  E. 
Zion  Annual  Conference  had  assembled,  and  returned  a  few 
days  after.  I  waited  on  the  Treasurer  some  time,,  as  I  had 
been  accus.tom.ed  to  do. 

And  one  day  Mr.  Davis  approached  me,  saying,  "I  pre- 
sented that  duplicate  to  the  Treasurer,  and  he  would  not 
settle  it."  "Why?"  said  I.  "Because  he  says  he  has  not 
given  you  any,"  said  he.  "  He  don't  deny  having  a  voucher 
of  mine?"  said  I;  "does  he?"  Mr.  Davis  said,  "No." 
"Well,"  said  I,  "  why  not  pay  you  then  on  the  order  and 
not  consider  the  duplicate,  for  it  is  of  no  use  if  he  settles  the 
voucher,  as  both  are  numbered." 

I  then  paid  all  the  money  I  received  from  Davis  on  it  but 
$2.00,  and  told  Mr.  Davis  to  let  me  have  the  duplicate.  He 
then  said  he  did  not  have  it  with  him,  so  I  made  myself 
easy,  waiting  to  see  Mr.  Wilcox,  but  for  some  time  I  could 
not  see  him  ;  but  in  the  meantime  they  bad  concocted  the- 
plan  to  destroy  me,  for  when  Mr.  Davis  was  talking  to  me 
he  bad  then  given  the  duplicate  to  the  parties  and  had 
agreed  to  the  prosecution.  He  at  this  time,  remember,  was 
an  aspirant  for  the  Legislature  also,  and  would  not  tell  me- 
it  was  in  the  hands  of  an  officer  for  my  arrest,  upon  the  oath 
of  T.  P.  Wilcox,  swearing  he  had  never  given  me  any,  and 
that  it  was  forged,  and  his  brother  James  Wilcox,  the  brother 
of  the  plaintiff,  was  an  aspirant  for  the  Sheriff's  office.  He 
had  his  brother  to  kill  the  matter,  and  the  matter  between 
him  and  m}Tself  was  settled,  no  more  to  be  heard  of,  ac- 
cording to  promise.  At  the  June  term  of  the  Superior  Court 
the  case,  however,  was  called.  I  appeared  as  defendant. 
The  plaintiff  was  called  and  failed.  I  was  recognized-  by 
the  Court,  Judge  J.  W.  Albertson.  He  inquired  into  the 
case  somewhat,  and  finding  it  frivolous,  passed  it  by.     But 


(15) 

Col.  D.  M.  D.  Lindsey,  of  Hertford,  Perquimans  county,  had 
told  Wilcox  and  brother,  if  they  undertook  to  prosecute  me  in 
that  case,  neither  of  them  should  be  elected,  and  if  elected, 
should  not  give  bond  This  was  not  known  to  me  until  af- 
ter the  election,  which  came  on  in  August,  after  court.  My 
friends,  white  and  black,  made  frequent  inquiry  as  to  what 
disposition  had  been  made  in  the  case,  and  the  only  answer 
that  could  be  given,  "Oh,  it's  all  nothing;  no  case  could  be 
made  out  of  it."  And,  in  fact,  the  State  had  failed  to  make 
a  case  out  of  it. 

The  next  court  the  case  came  up  again  before  Hon.  J.  W. 
Albertson,  and  the  State  had  yet  not  been  able  to  make  out 
a  case.  I  was  put  under  no  bond,  and  was  no  more  inter- 
ested, and  the  important  witness,  Mr.  Benjamin  Dozier,  had 
to  leave  for  New  York,  and  the  case  was  supposed  to  be 
over. 

All  things  now  were  apparently  good  and  pleasant.  The 
judicial  nomination  for  Judge  in  the  First  District  took 
place  in  the  summer  of  1873.  .  Judge  Albertson  was  nomi- 
nated as  the  candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  Judge, 
and  Mills  L.  Eure  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

My  brother  and  Col.  D.  M.  D.  Lindsey,  both  of  Hertford, 
had  had  a  previous  difficulty  in  some  of  the  municipal  elec- 
tions. Some  of  the  men  the  Judge  would  not  support ;  there- 
fore, they  determined  to  defeat  the  Judge,  though  he  was 
the  Republican  candidate,  and  to  satisfy  their  devilish  de- 
sign, they  proposed  to  work  for  the  Democratic  nominee, 
Mills  L.  Eure,  of  Gates  county.  He  promised  my  brother,  W. 
E.  Ferebee,  a  lot  in  Hertford  for  his  support ;  also  to  furnish 
all  the  money  he  wanted  for  the  support  of  his  family,  and 
to  pay  all  traveling  expenses.  The  same  offer  was  made  to 
me,  but  I  refused  to  accept.  I  determined  to  support  the 
regular  nominee  of  our  party.  In  May  or  June  there  was 
a  mass  meeting  held  at  Gatesvilleforthe  purpose  of  consoli- 
dating the  Republicans  with  the  Democrats.  I  attended  that 


(16) 

meeting.  I  drove  Judge  Albertson's  horse.  I  opposed  the 
measure,  in  the  Court  House,  and  defeated  it.  Next  morn- 
ing, before  I  left  the  hotel,  I  was  waited  on  by  a  committee 
for  the  purpose  of  wiping  out  my  Radicalism  relative  to 
Judge  Aibertson.  I  became  disgusted  at  the  entreaties 
made,  so  uncalled  for,  and  the  only  plea  made  was  upon 
what  my  brother  had  said  about  what  he  and  the  Judge 
differed  on  in  the  municipal  election.  I  argued  that  per- 
sonal differences  should  never  make  a  political  disorganiza- 
tion. I  remarked  that  no  true  loyal  citizen — loyal  to  his 
country — would  make  any  difference  in  that  case,  but  would 
support  the  choice  of  his  people.  At  this  my  brother  appa- 
rently got  verjr  angry,  so  much  so  I  called  for  my  horse  and 
buggy  and  left  the  hotel.  Gatesville  was  stirred  up  from 
centre  to  circumference.  The  true  Republicans  were  with 
me.  1  was  the  only  man  there,  as  a  public  man,  defending 
Judge  Aibertson,  and  urging  his  claims.  A  remark  was 
made  by  my  brother,  that  if  he  could  get  Mills  L.  Eure 
elected,  he  would  never  be. troubled  with  me  again,  but  I 
thought  nothing  of  it.  At  a  meeting  held  in  New  Land 
township,  Pasquotank  county,  quite  a  hot  discussion  arose. 
Myself  and  all  the  citizens  of  Pasquotank  were  Judge  Al- 
bertson's men, or  men  for  the  party.  The.scheme  they  tried 
was  to  wipe  out  all  party  issues  in  electing  a  Judge,  for  the 
purpose  of  tangling  the  vote,  so  that  M.  L.  Eure  would  be 
elected.  I  defeated  it  that  day.  My  brother,  with  quite 
rough  language,  said  all  he  wanted  was  Eure  elected,  and  I 
would  soon  be  out  of  his  way. 

They  succeeded  in  electing  Eure  by  a  small  majority — I 
think  180,  or  thereabout. 

We  lost  Aibertson.  The  winter  term  of  the  Superior 
Court  Eure  presided,  and  had  that  case  resurrected.  At  this 
time  my  witness  was  in  New  York  and  could  not  be  gotten. 
They  forced  me  into  trial  without  a  witness  for  my  defence 
and  the  State  never  proved  any  forgery,  and  failed  to  procure 
any  evidence  as  to  its  being  my  handwriting.     They  intro- 


(17) 

duced  a  Mr.  Smith — a  Yankee  that  I  had  been  keeping 
books  for — to  recognize  the  handwriting,  but  he  would  not. 
Mr.  John  F.  Pool,  a  school-mate,  wanted  to  be  sworn  to 
testify  to  the  handwriting,  but  the  Judge  was  so  prejudiced 
he  would  not  allow  any  evidence  whatever  in  my  favor. 


CHAPTER  III. 

In  the  last  chapter  in  its  conclusion  you  had  the  begin- 
ning of  my  troubles.  I  shall  endeavor  to  finish  in  this  chapter. 
My  character  was  unattacked  and  proven  good.  My  coun- 
sels, Hon.  C.  W.  Grandy,  J.  P.  Whidbee  and  W.  F.  Pool  urged 
that  further  time  be  given,  so  that  I  might  get  my  witness 
from  New  York.  The  court  would  not  allow  any  further 
indulgence.  I  was  therefore  rushed  into  trial  unprepared 
in  every  respect.  The  Solicitor,  J.  P.  Whidbee,  was  em- 
ployed by  me  before,  so  he  let  Henry  Gilliam,  of  Edenton, 
appear  for  the  State,  one  of  Uie  worst  enemies  I  had  on 
God's  green  earth  ;  took  the  advantage  of  me  by  removing 
or  setting  at  least  every  colored  man  off  the  jury  except  two, 
one  of  whom  was  a  known  enemy  of  mine,  his  name  was 

Henry ,  the  other  was  Isaac  Martin.     He  claimed  he 

did  not  or  could  not  hold  the  rest,  for  when  my  counsel 
were  asking  leniency  in  the  case,  the  Judge  said  he  ought 
not  to  allow  any  chance  for  anything,  for  I  was  a  mean, 
mean,  disrespectful  wretch,  and  he  "  Isaac"  said  he  saw  the 
rest  of  the  jury  were  so  bitter,  relying  on  what  the  judge 
had  said,  they  returned  a  verdict  of  guilty. 

At  this  juncture,  my  counsel  asked  that  he  allow  an  ap- 
peal, so  as  to  have  a  fair  showing  in  the  case.  He,  the 
Judge,  said  he  would  grant  nothing,  so  it  was  said  by  every 
body,  especially  those  in  court,  and  saw  his  manoeuvres  on 
the  bench,  came  to  me  and  said,  Ferebee,  all  the  favor  you'll 
get  now  will  be  from  the  Governor,  and  we  will  help  in 
2 


18 


every  thing  we  can.  Just  rest  easy,  it  don't  make  any  dif- 
ference what  his  sentence  may  be.  The  Hon.  Hugh  Cale 
and  others  came  up  to  go  my  bail  for  a  new  trial,  but  he 
would  not  allow  it.  During  the  night  my  white  friends 
went  to  see  him,  and  he  required  them  to  give  a  justified 
bond  of  one  thousand  dollars,  which  was  too  heavy.  I  was 
kept  27  days  in  jail.  My  friends  failed  to  get  me  a  new  trial. 
The  Hon.  Hugh  Cale  succeeded,  with  the  assistance  of  Hon. 
W.  J.  Munden  and  other  citizens,  in  getting  the  Governor 
to  grant  a  pardon  from  under  the  sentence  of  a  four  years 
in  the  penitentiary. 

The  County  Treasurer,  T.  P.  Wilcox,  afterwards  said  he 
did  give  the  duplicate,  but  he  was  drunk  at  the  time  he 
gave  it.  He  afterwards  was  charged  of  stealing  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  of  the  county  money,  and  his  sureties  had  to 
do  all  they  could  to  save  him,  and  the  commissioners  had 
to  appoint  another  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  his  brother, 
who  was  sheriff,  had  to  run  away  from  the  town ;  and  in 
fact  every  one  that  was  in  it  have  come  to  disgrace  finally 
both  white  and  colored. 

The  citizens  desired  I  should  not  be  moved  in  daylight, 
so,  early  on  the  28th  day  of  March,  1874,  Monday,  I  left 
my  home  for  prison,  but  I  was  reconciled  and  had  unshaken 
confidence  in  God  that  an  iron  bar  could  not  hold  me  if  I 
trusted  Him,  the  all  powerful  God.  I  went  with  joy,  and 
the  second  day  after  getting  there,  Dr.  Mullen,  of  Camden, 
and  Hon.  W.  J.  Munden  and  several  of  the  friends  came  to 
see  me,  and  asked  the  Warden  and  Captain  to  favor  me 
until  they  could  have  time  to  work  for  me ;  from  that  time 
the  Captain,  W.  H.  Thompson,  done  all  in  his  power  appa- 
rently to  render  me  comfortable,  and  I  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  the  prison,  and  could  go  all  over  the  stockade, 
and  all  the  guards,  white  and  colored,  fell  in  love  with  me, 
and  all  would  try  to  get  on  the  beat  next  to  me,  and  I  held 
Sunday  School.  When  the  order  came  to  send  men  to  the 
mountains  to  the  Railroad,  Capt.  Baldy  Davis  was  allowed 


(19) 

to  pick  his  men  of  the  best  there  were  in  prison.  I  was  the 
first  man  sent  for  to  come  up  to  the  office.  I  went,  and  the 
Captain  told  me  if  I  did  not  wish  to  go  he  would  not  send 
me  against  my  will ;  he  also  stated  it  would  be  better  for 
my  health  and  better  about  writing  home,  and  if  there  was 
any  reprieve  for  me  I  should  certainly  have  one,  if  any 
man  did.  I  then,  at  the  office,  told  the  Captain  who  I  would 
like  to  go  with  us,  so  he  and  myself  selected  the  crowd.  He 
promised  me  I  should  do  nothing  more  than  cook  and  wait 
on  the  officers. 

He  kept  his  word,  and  while  in  the  mountains  I  was 
made  a  steward  and  trustee,  and  when  I  wanted  to,  and 
had  hours  Sundays  for  preaching.  I  had  a  large  crowd  of 
whites  every  Sunday  as  my  audience,  together  with  my 
captains  and  guards. 

The  day  my  reprieve  came,  I  was  in  the  cook-house  pre- 
paring pastry  for  Capt.  Moore's  dinner.  He  did  not  allow 
me  to  finish  his  dinner,  at  once  came  in  the  kitchen,  and 
said,  "  Ferebee,  your  prayers  are  answered.  You  can  put 
the  business  you  are  about  down,  and  tell  all  the  boys  good 
bye,  and  bid  them  follow  your  examples  and  they'll  never 
get  punished."  I  bid  my  fellow-prisoners  farewell,  and  the 
Captain  allowed  me  to  pray  with  them.  I  then  came  out 
and  went  to  Henry  Station,  McDowell  county,  N.  C,  where 
Major  H.  M.  Miller  was  acting  superintendent  on  the  "West- 
ern North  Carolina  Railroad,  and  his  wife  was  a  Christian- 
hearted  woman,  and  gave  me  the  best  her  table  afforded, 
and  from  her  appearance  she  always  felt  for  a  prisoner,  and 
when  it  was  said  some  must  go  to  headquarters  to  do  any 
work,  all  wanted  to  go,  because  she  was  kind  ;  and  the  Major, 
also ;  there  never  could  be  a  better  man  over  a  parcel  of  men 
than  he  was.  He  was  not  heard  ordering  a  man  to  be 
whipped.  Though  I've  seen  them  in  the  mountains,  struck 
nine  and  thirty  twice  in  one  morning,  out  of  doors  and  the 
snow  falling  on  them  at  the  same  time.  But  it  was  not  the 
Major's  fault — he  never  gave  such  sentences.     But  Captain 


(20) 

Baldy  Davis  was  a  blood-thirsty  man,  also  Captain  Moore 
was  so  inclined.  Thus,  they  would  take  the  men  and  whip 
them  until  the  blood  would  run  from  their  shoulders  to 
their  heels.  The}7  did  not  stop  for  snow  nor  rain  except 
when  they  thought  the  Major  would  be  up,  and  except  it 
snowed  so  they  could  not  get  to  their  work.  But,  thank 
God,  I  was  blessed  with  a  favor  from  all.  It  was  thought 
by  the  doctor  that  I  was  ruptured,  or  becoming  so,  and  the 
Captain  furnished  me  with  a  truss  hoop.  So  it  was  God 
protecting  me  that  I  might  be  able  to  preach  His  word. 

I  had  so  often  prayed  this  prayer,  "  Lord,  thou  knowest 
the  charges  made  against  me  were  false,  and  Thou  hast 
foreinstructed  me  of  this  prosecution,  now  give  me  patience 
to  stand  and  wait  until  Thou  art  satisfied  with  my  faith 
and  patience,  and  then  deliver  me,"  and  at  that  time,  ac- 
cording to  my  prayer,  he  done,  and  I  have  none  of  that  life 
to  regret.  I  am  to-day  satisfied  with  my  lot  among  men  in 
the  past,  and  can  risk  the  future  in  God's  care. 

Since  I've  been  reprieved  men  of  the  aristocratic  order 
have  labored  to  bury  me,  but  the}7  have  found  it  a  difficult 
matter  to  do  so.  I  received  license  to  preach  in  1877,  and 
in  1878  I  made  application  to  join  the  Annual  Conference 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  I  met  an 
objection  by  Elder  T.  F.  H.  Blackman,  J.  A.  Tyler  and 
others,  who  bitterly  opposed  me,  and  had  me  sent  before  a 
committee  and  examined  after  undergoing  an  examination  „ 
as  a  candidate  to  join  the  Conference,  and  had  passed  a  first 
grade.  The  committee  was  composed  of  Blackman,  Hill, 
Tyler,  Mattocks,  Simmons  and  Reeves.  Committee  reported 
favorable,  and  Blackman,  who  made  the  open  objections, 
made  this  plea,  the  only  thing  he  was  after  was  to  know 
whether  I  was  married  or  not,  as  he  "understood  I  was 
courting  for  a  single  gentleman."  The  Bishop,  who  knew 
all  the  facts  in  the  case,  satisfied  the  Conference  in  reference 
to  my  standing  at  home,  my  wife,  &c,  and  vouched  himself 
for  my  competency,  &c. 

I  was  received  into  Conference  and  assigned  to  Winston , 


(21) 

N.  C,  where  I  had  held  the  charge  one  year  and  a-half  be- 
fore, and  such  strong  petitions  went  to  the  Conference  for 
me,  provided  I  was  permitted  to  join.  The  judgment  of 
the  Conference  was  to  send  me  to  them,  where  I  spent  a 
pleasant  year. 

In  the  Conference  at  Lincolnton,  N.  C,  a  motion  was 
made  that  I  go  before  the  committee  on  Deacons'  orders; 
and  after  passing  an  examination,  No.  1,  on  motion  to  re- 
ceive, Elder  J.  A.  Tyler  opposed,  on  the  grounds  of  the  time 
according  to  law,  and  urged  his  objection  by  saying  it  made 
no  difference  how  well  equipped  a  young  man  niay  be,  it 
was  just  giving  them  license  to  be  in  the  way  of  the  old 
Elders.  The  Bishop  stated  there  was  a  necessity  for  my 
being  ordained,  and  if  I  was  not  ordained  he  should  not 
send  me  where  he  wanted  me,  and  should  let  me  go  to 
teaching,  as  it  was  my  occupation.  The  Conference  voted 
in  favor  of  ordination.  I  was  ordained  and  sent  to  Gran- 
ville county,  on  the  Oxford  Circuit,  where  I  held  charge  two 
years— 1880-'81. 

During  the  year  1880,  I  had  an  uphill  way,  but  went 
through ;  the  Circuit  was  poor  and  could  pay  no  salary. 
For  that  year  I  only  received  eighty  ($80)  dollars.  I  had 
to  attend  the  Conference  at  Tarboro,  N.  C,  and  had  col- 
lected five  ($5.10)  dollars  and  ten  cents  of  the  general  fund, 
and  my  churches  had  not  paid  me  enough  to  carry  me,  but 
the  chairman  of  the  Trustee  Board  had  some  money  in 
hand  for  me,  and  he  said  I  could  go  and  he  would  send  it 
to  Conference  time  enough  for  me  to  replace  it  and  make  a 
settlement  with  the  Conference  Steward.  And  the  money 
did  not  arrive  in  time — and  on  the  passage  of  my  charac- 
ter, the  Steward  asked  for  settlement  of  general  fund.  I 
related  the  matter,  and  as  the  Conference  was  about  to  pass 
my  character,  an  objection  was  raised  by  Elder  R.  H.  Sim- 
mons, because  I  had  spent  the  money  in  lieu  of  my  own,  and 
he  held  I  had  committed  a  crime  punishable  in  law,  and 
held  it  a  prison  offence,  and  my  character  ought  not  to  pass. 


(22) 

The  Conference  differed,  and  could  not  see  any  crime,  for  I 
had  told  the  Bishop  about  it  and  also  several  of  the  Elders, 
and  the  Steward  also,  and  I  could  have  said  nothing  of  what 
I  collected,  as  others  did,  and  it  would  not  have  been  known. 
The  Bishop  stated  that  Bro.  Simmons'  language  was  too 
strong,  and  that  there  was  no  crime  in  the  case  ;  it  was  only 
misapplying  the  money  from  the  purpose  it  was  collected 
without  any  intent  to  do  wrong — showing  a  letter  that  had 
been  sent  relative  to  the  money,  assuring  me  the  money 
would  reach  me  before  the  Conference  closed.  The  Confer- 
ence passed  my  character,  and  the  Bishop  opened  his  pocket 
book  and  paid  the  $5.00  for  me,  due  the  Conference.  Elder 
Simmons  urged  still  his  course  against  me,  until  the  Con- 
ference ruled  him  out  of  order.  I  have  been  hated  all  the 
way  through  by  brothers  in  church  and  State,  by  men  who 
aspire  and  think  my  ability  will  demand  any  thing  credit- 
able ;  but  I've  kept  my  course  all  the  time,  and  have  not 
put  on  a  flinching  jacket. 

In  the  year  1SS1  I  had  quite  a  pleasant  time  in  the  min- 
istry. My  presiding  Elder,  W.  J.  Moore,  was  the  most 
feeling  Elder  I  ever  had.  with  one  exception,  to  wit:  Elder 
W.  H.  Thurbee  cannot  be  forgotten. 

In  June  I  lost  a  new  church,  by  an  incendiary,  located  near 
Wilton,  Granville  county,  in  two  hundred  yards  of  Bank's 
Chapel,  the  white  Methodist  church. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1881,  I  was  elected  as  delegate  from 
Granville  county  to  the  convention  which  assemble'!  in 
Raleigh  on  the  17th  May.  E.  W.  Turner,  an  aspirant, 
wanted  me  to  insert  his  name  in  the  place  of  Mr.  G.  W. 
Rogers'.  I  refused  upon  the  grounds  that  it  would  be 
unlawful.  He  took  an  exception  at  this  action  on  my  part 
and  introduced  into  the  convention,  unknown  to  me,  a  paper 
that  had  been  circulated  by  the  Democratic  part}'  relative 
to  my  imprisonment,  &c,  which  they  used  to  defeat  the 
Republican  party  of  Granville,  because  I  was  said  to  be  the 
champion  canvasser  of  the   county,  and   was  successful   in 


(23) 

electing  the  whole  ticket — County,  State  and  National.  He 
handed  this  paper  to  the  committee  appointed  by  the  chair- 
man of  the  convention,  pro  tempore,  as  a  committee  on  cre- 
dentials. The  committee  were  as  follows,  as  near  as  I  can 
remember :  Rev.  J.  C.  Price,  Hon.  J.  H.  Harris,  W.  V. 
Turner,  and  when  they  reported  they  left  my  name  as  a 
delegate  out,  and  had  inserted  E.  W.  Turner.  I  had  not 
learned  the  concocted  plan  of  theirs,  brought  about  by  John 
H.  Lane  and  Turner.  The  former, Lane,  has  a  reputation  at 
home ;  as  a  schoolmate  of  mine  I  know  all  about  his  stand- 
ing, a  man  that  can't  teach  a  school  in  Pasquotank.  W.  V. 
Turner,  a  notorious  drunkard  and  had  been  sold  right  in 
Raleigh  for  stealing,  and  having  a  telegram  sent  from 
another  State  for  his  arrest,  and  Col.  I.  J.  Young  saved  him 
from  being  in  prison.  Doubtless  these  were  the  men  that 
objected  to  me,  and  were  the  big  men  in  that  convention. 

Hon.  J.  C.  Price,  who  was  elected  chairman,  a  brother  of 
mine  in  the  gospel,  never  opened  his  mouth  in  my  behalf, 
and  he  and  I  both  members  of  the  same  Conference.  I  saw 
then  that  for  the  sake  of  honor  and  promotion,  he  would 
suffer  his  brother  minister  to  be  crushed  into  the  dust,  and 
my  vote  helped  to  put  him  there.  I  felt  then  that  all 
preachers  do  not  practice  what  they  sing  and  preach,  to  wit : 
''And  each  the  other's  burden  bear,"  &c.  He  failed  to  put  me 
on  his  beast,  and  the  only  way  he  would  allow  me  to  say  a 
word  was  when  Elder  W.  J.  Moore  and  others,  white  and 
colored,  came  to  my  rescue,  with  the  Hon.  Hugh  Cale,  of 
Pasquotank  county,  to  the  front,  then  it  was  that  I  rose  to  a 
question  of  personal  privilege  and  obtained  the  floor,  through 
the  assistance  of  Hon.  J.  H.  Williamson  and  Col.  G.  T 
Wassom.  I  had  the  big  men  of  the  day  against  me  :  Law- 
yer Leary,  of  Fayetteville,  J.  E.  O'Hara,  of  Halifax,  George 
W.  Price,  of  Wilmington,  James  H.  Harris,  of  Raleigh,  and 
many  others,  while  Col.  George  T.  Wassom,  of  Goldsboro, 
and  Hon.  J.  H.  Williamson,  of  Franklin  county,  all  the  way 
through,  were  in  my  defense.     After  I  made  my  speech  the 


(24) 

fever  was  quieted,  and  then  it  was  that  I  ordered  my  name 
to  be  stricken  from  the  roll  and  withdrew.  So  when  men 
want  to  ascend  above  their  brothers,  if  prompted  by  self, 
they  will  allow  a  brother  to.be  killed  so  they  climb.  It's  a 
good  thing  Jesus  was  not  so,  isn't  it? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  say  something  about  what  causes 
many  a  young  man  to  be  finally  lost. 

In  the  early  days  of  my  conversion  I  was  called  to  preach, 
but  for  six  years  I  refused,  and  when  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  try,  I  applied  to  my  Quarterly  Conference,  and  the  old 
brethren  denied  ine  upon  the  ground  of  age.  I  went  another 
year  and  they  refused,  on  the  ground  that  I  had  not  paid 
an  assessment  laid  upon  the  members.  I  was  at  this  time 
teaching  seventeen  miles  from  home,  and  had  not  been 
home.  So  right  then  I  paid  the  assessments,  but  they  still 
refused.  I  waited  another  six  months,  and  applied  again. 
The}'  refused  because  I  had  not  attended  class.  I  proved 
to  them  I  had  been  home  three  times  during  the  six  months 
and  visited  class  every  time.  They  still  refused,  and  if  it 
had  not  been  for  them  I  should  never  have  got  into  politics 
as  I  did.  So  often  the  dog  is  in  the  manger  and  can't  eat 
the  hay,  and  won't  let  the  ox  eat  it,  either. 

Since  I  have  been  in  the  ministry  I  have  had  always 
spiritual  success.  I  have  closely  kept  the  number  of  all  the 
converts,  which  I  claim  will  add  some  stars  to  my  crown  if  I 
continue  faithful.  My  church  ledger  shows  six  hundred 
and  fifty  (650)  converts,  besides  a  number  claiming  Christ 
and  not  in  any  church,  and  from  other  denominations  that 
have  chosen  to  come  to  Zion,  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
(137.) 

My  congregations  have  always  manifested  a  pleasure  in 
listening  to  my  imperfect  preaching,  and  so  act  towards  me 
that  I  always  feel  pleasant  in  their  midst,  at  church  or  at 
their  firesides. 

All  this  is  respectfully  submitted,  by  your  servant, 

With  refined  obdience, 

L.  R.  FEREBEE. 
Stationed  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

January  19th,  A.  D.  1882. 


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